“Do Remember Me” Iowa State

Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh, do remember me, Look away beyond the blue. Do Lord is such a fun song. Many thinks of it as a kid’s song, but the truth is, you’re never too old to enjoy it. Easy melody, simple lyrics, yes, it’s perfect for children to learn and sing along with. But I never outgrew it. Standing in the mist of the defensive huddle as a Cyclone player, clapping my hands, tapping my feet…having fun as I played the game of football. In a sense it was like Church for me a happy place with friends and teammates with my eyes focused on the glory of the coming of the Lord. Wait, what was that last lyric? Yes, Do You Remember Me? 

The camaraderie these football players of Iowa State University from all era’s and, most importantly, friends had from 40-plus years ago never left us, “as I observed entering Wallaby’s this past weekend, Our former QB acting host of the Football Reunion who originally suggested the idea of an annual football reunion because of the sudden death of some of our more popular players; with no fanfare moved around the room as he did years earlier as the  captain and with skill as the offensive leader and, ideally, overall leader.

“With the emotion present in the room, it was clear that we still felt the same way for each other as we did back when we were young men and teammates at Iowa State University.” Truth and Friendship!

Many former football players took to the rounds of the room to speak to different individuals with cheers, hugs and laughter about their funny experiences we each had with one another, stories that started with” freshman get into the car” were embellished and cosigned about the driver’s meanness; top plays and wins they had made during critical games and the dedicated coaches that led the teams to success both on and off the field. A cinematic image of thought using words played throughout the event that featured funny and undisciplined images of the players from their glory days as football players and prankster, everyone had a joking experience from the past. During this whole time, I was excited about God’s work in the room. If only we could stop for a moment and realize the same thing and bottle it.

The skills we learned playing football and as teammates carried us on into our careers, added “There’s no ‘I’ in team,” It’s not about Me”! The work ethic we learned by being team players allowed us to become successful in our professional lives for most. It didn’t matter if we were part of a winning or losing team. We all learned the same life lesson: to remain a united front in the face of any obstacle.” Being True as a Family! In the mist of our one heart beat encounter for one another, I could not help but think about our walk side by side with Christ, we were doing. My concern was purely relational but a thought about perception and a simple,” how they would respond if the topic was changed toward our missional life with our lord Jesus Christ? Could a person be misunderstood or rejected? What do you do?

 A Reflection, “Do what the apostle Paul did”. His focus was on prayer which was far from casual. 

Notice his key words– devote yourselves (be committed, intentional), keep alert (be aware, engaged), and thankful (be grateful for what God will do next). 

In Colossians 4, Paul was speaking about initiating a conversation with others about the gospel. He said it begins with prayer. Pray, because something happens in the locker room when we pray for teammates. God opens doors into people’s lives.

I consider a little prayer strategy, silently for lasting relationships. Who are your teammates in your 1000-foot circle?

Pray for your teammate in their locker room of life on your right throughout this week, then the teammate on your left the next week, then your former position coach or boss the next week, then the player/co-worker who rubbed you the wrong way in the past the next week, then the team leaders/owner the next week ... Just keep it rolling. 

Pray that God will draw them to Himself. Pray that they would sense an emptiness in their lives. Pray that God would give you rapport with them. 

Watch what happens (be alert). One of those teammates with the help of the holy spirit in your “prayer-sights” will sit next to you on a future reunion trip and phone you asking you, how has Jesus been messing with. A teammate will confide in you about a family death. Another will support you during that time of need.

Opportunities to talk about Christ will become more evident. You may notice a deepening concern for your teammates. The circumstances of their lives will become more obvious to you, opening the door to talk with them.

As we pray it makes us alert to what God is doing with the question., "What is true friendship according to the Bible?"
The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:13-15). Jesus is the pure example of a true friend, for He laid down His life for His "friends." What is more, anyone may become His friend by trusting in Him as his personal savior, being born again and receiving new life in Him.

Proverbs is another good source of wisdom regarding friends. "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17) "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). The issue here is that in order have a friend, one must be a friend. "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses"(Proverbs 27:6). "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17)

Finally, my tangible definition of a true friend comes from the Apostle Paul: "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8). "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends" (John 15:13). Now, that is true friendship!Oh Do You Remember Me!

Thank You O heavenly father for this song:

“So, we will fight, fight, fight for Iowa State”

Loyal sons forever true, and we will fight the battle through. 

And when we hit that line we’ll hit it hard every yard for You!

God Bless You and This Ministry!